Before the end of September, I'd like you to decorate and post an envelope.

A MESSAGE FOR NON-AUSTRALIAN PARTICIPANTS – please don’t include real plant
material on (or in) your envelope because Australian Customs will confiscate and
destroy it, and I’d hate to miss out on receiving it!

These
are some of the envelopes I‘ve received so far …. just to show you some
possibilities …. please do your own thing in whatever way you like!

Put your return address legibly on the back (and please include an email address if you have one)

The envelope can be any size, but no larger than A4 (21 x 30cm). Choose a size that best suits your country’s postal requirements.

Decorate both the front and back of the envelope in
whatever way you like, but it must be able to be sent through the postal
system. Please relate your decoration to my theme … it’s “The Language
of Nature” so you can just include a ‘naturey’ word somewhere, otherwise
feel free to take the theme to any lengths your imagination dictates!

Don’t include anything inside (except maybe a piece of card to stop the envelope getting bent in the post). I will be leaving the envelopes sealed, and binding them with rings on the left-hand side.

Post in time to arrive by 30 September 2012

Here are some ideas …

Start with a pre-existing envelope or make your own (from an outdated calendar page, paper you have decorated yourself, etc)

Find some appropriate postage stamps to use as inspiration for your decoration

Use your own choice of colours

Use any technique that is ‘mailable’ (paint, draw, doodle, collage, etc)

I want to include people of all ages ….
This
could be a literacy/art/recycling project for Schools as a whole-class
project or just contributions from individual students.
Please contact me for specific ‘teacher-friendly’ information!

It’s wonderful to see the community getting involved already.
The Karana Downs Girl Guides have joined the project by decorating envelopes as part of their Nature badges.
You can read more about this on their blog post on 17 July. Click here.

Now for my other project .......

2. FOCUS ON NATURE Project

Before the end of September, I'd like you to email me a 'close-up plant' photograph.
These photographs will incorporated into a book (or books), which will include hand-lettered poetic phrases.

These images are just examples to give you an idea of the sort of photos I’m hoping to get.
These are plants from all over the world that I photographed in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens.

* Keep the image quality high, but make the file size is less than 1 megabyte (so I don’t overstretch my computer download limit).
* Tell me which part of the plant it is (flower, leaf, etc) and include the name of the plant (if known)
* In the email include your name and address (or at least your town/city and country)
* If you send multiple photos, please send each in a separate email

I want people from all over the world to help me celebrate my year as Artist-in-Residence at Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mt Coot-tha (in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia).

If you’ve got any questions or suggestions, or you’d like me to send you a pdf file about either of these projects, please contact me.

About Me

I am a teacher and practising multi-media artist working with all types of textiles - fibres, paper, yarns and fabrics. I enjoy exploring the tactile qualities of the materials and playing with textures and colour combinations.
I am also passionate about calligraphy and lettering, and I use letters, words and symbols as the inspiration to create hangings, artist books, sculptures and wearable art. Visit my website www.triciasmout.com.au.
As the 2012 Artist-in-Residence art Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha, I chose “The Language of Nature” as my theme, and I worked collaboratively with many other artists. My year is documented in my blog www.triciasmout.blogspot.com.au.